Automatic fire-kindler



No. 615,216. .Patented Nov. 29, |898.

n; M. GIL'L. -AuToMATlc Flm-z K mnLE'n.

I (Application file d Nom-5, 1897.1

3 Sheets-'Sheet l.

(No Model.)

wif um Tu: Nonms PETERS ouA vnoau'me., wAsmNmaN. g: c

No. 6I5,2l6. Patented Nov. 29, |898.

' R. M. GILL.

AUTOMATIC vFIRE KINDLER.

(Application med Nov. l5, 189i,

3 sheets-'sheet 2.

(No Madel.)

I znior TH: owns PETERS co.. Pauw-umu., wAsmNamN, n a.

No. s|5,2|s. Patented Nov. 29, |398.

' n. M. GILL.

AUTUMATIC-FIRE KINDLER.

(Applicltion led Nov. 5, 1897.

(No Model.)

3 Shaets-.SheetAZ-I;

Wim. esszs n: Nonms Pneus co, worauma, wAsmNcrron, n. c.

NTTED STATES RICHARD MONROE GILL, OF DARBONNF., LOUISIANA.

AUTOMATIC Fl'RE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,216, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed November 5, 1897. Serial No. 657.500. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that LRICHARD MONROE GILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at DArbonne, in the parish of Union and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Fire-Kindler, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic fire-kindlers; and the primary object that I have in view is to providean apparatus which may be loaded with fuel andy adjusted for service, to be set in operation at a certain predetermined time, and which shall be automatic in operation to deposit the fuel in the fireplace, ignite the fuel, and return to position back against the wall and away from the fireplace, so as to be out of the way.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that its parts may be adjusted to accommodate the structure to fireplaces of different sizes. l

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition and locking device which may be used in connection with a time mechanism that can be adjusted to give the alarm at different periods or hours, such adjustment of the parts being easily and quickly effected without in any wise disturbing the connection of the elements; and a further object is to simplify the construction, with a view to promoting its strength and durability,

the efficiency and reliability of operation, and 1 enable the apparatus to be installed and controlled with comparative ease.

lVith these ends in View the invention consists in the combination, with a fuel-carrier, of means for supporting and moving the same to insure the deposit of the load of fuel into the fireplace, a time-controlled detent and locking mechanism by which the fuel-carrier is held inoperative until the desired period when the fuel shall be deposited in the replace, an ignition device arranged to ignite the fuel after the latter shall have been deposited in the fireplace and which itself shall be ignited by the operation of the detent mechanism, and suitable locking devices intermediate between the detent mechanism and the fuel-carrier and the ignition device; and the invention further consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which* Figure 1 is an elevation looking at a wall and fireplace and showing my re-kindler apparatus adjusted or set for service. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the fireplace and illustrating the apparatus with the fuelcarrier projected into the fireplace in position to deposit the fuel upon the ordinary andirons or the grate therein. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation of the standard and showing the torch-carrier rod in section, the planeof the section being indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 being a view looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of one type of the fuel-carrier especially adapted for supporting a load of Wood and depositing the same in the fireplace. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of another form offuel-carrier designed to contain coal to be dumped upon a grate in a fireplace. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of part of the Wood-fuel carrier, said view being a sectional plan view on the plane indicated by the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 4,1ookingin the direction indicated vby the arrow. Fig. 7is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the timecontrolled detent and locking mechanism by which the apparatus is held inoperative until the desired time is reached when the fire is to be started. Fig. 8 is an elevation of such time-controlled detentmechanism, the vieW also showing the locking-rod for lthe mastarm and fuel-carrier in operative relation to the detent mechanism. Fig. Sisadetail view of the torch or ignition device,which is adapted to be thrust into the fireplace below the fuel to start the fire. Fig. 10 represents views in plan, front, and edge of the holder or carrier for the torch. Fig. 1l is a fragmentary detail of part of the torchcarrier rod, showing the means for fitting and holding said rod in operative relation to the tubular standard. Fig. 12 is a detail view ofa modified form of the coal-carrier.

IOO

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding and like parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In the present invention it is my purpose to provide an apparatus by which a housekeeper lnay load fuel onto a fuel-carrier during the night-time and adjust the apparatus so that it may automatically set itself in operation and deposit the fuel into the fireplace at a predetermined time, after which a torch is applied under the fuel to start the fire, all the devices being operated automatically at the proper time and in proper order, so as not to require any attention on the part of the housekeeper after once adjusting or setting the apparatus and obviating the necessity for getting up in the morning and starting the fire. One of the advantages due to the use of this apparatus is that the fuel may be assembled and loaded onto the apparatus during the day or evening and while the fire exists in the fireplace, thus enabling the room to be kept comfortable during the day and evening and also enabling a good fire to be started in the morning, so that the housekeeper is not compelled to enter a cold room in the morning.

Referring now by numerals to the drawings, l designates a hollow standard,which is erected at one side of a fireplace 2 and at a suitable distance therefrom to enable the fuelcarrier 3 to occupy aposition out of the range or inuence of the fire in the fireplace, but which fuel-carrier occupies such relation to the fireplace as to permit it to be projected thereinto when the mast-arm -t describes a semirevolution around the standard l in the operation of the apparatus.

The standard 1 is preferably of tubular form, and its lower end is provided with a base G. The standard is erected alongside of a wall, at a suitable distance to one side of the fireplace, and it is held in position by means of a clip 7 and the base G, said clip being fastened to the wall, so as to embrace the standard near its upper end, and the base being fastened to the fioor.

Near its upper end the tubular standard is provided with a compoundly-curved cam-slot, one half S of which extends in a downward direction around the standard for one-half the circumference thereof, while the other part 0 also extends in a downward direction, but inclined in the reverse direction to the part S, so as to extend around the standard for a distance equal to one-half the circumference thereof. The parts S 0 of the slot are continuous with each other, as shown by Figs. l and 3, and they serve to direct the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier into position against the wall and with relation to the fireplace, as will hereinafter more fully appear. rlhe tubularstandard is further provided near its lower end with a single spiral slot l0,whieh extends half-way around the standard in a plane parallel with the upper part S of the slot first described, and this lower slot l0 serves to direct the torch-carrier rod in a manner to present the torch to the fireplace, so as to thrust the torch beneath the fuel for the purpose of starting the fire.

In the upper open end of the fixed hollow standard is slidably fitted a spindle 1l,whicl1 carries the mast-arm 4t. This spindle 1I fits loosely at its lower end in the standard, so as to slide and turn therein, and said spindle is confined in place by means of a clip l2,which loosely embraces the spindle and is fastened to the wall at a point above the mast-arm.

I prefer to make the mast-arm Ltin extensible sections 4 and 4b, which are telescopicallyfitted together and held in rigid relation to each other by means of a set-screw 123 or other suitable form of clamp; but, if desired, the mast-arm may be a single continuous bar or rod of metal, or a tube maybe used. The member 4J* of the mast-arm may be provided with a sleeve or head l2, which is fitted and attached to the spindle 1l in any suitable way-as, for instance, by a clamp-and thus the mast-arm and the spindle are attached together, so as to be rigid one with the other and to insure simultaneous sliding and turning movements of said parts on and in the tubular standard. The described attachment of the mast-arm to the spindle and of the telescopic mast-arm itself enables the apparatus to be adjusted to accommodate it to fireplaces of different sizes. The spindle ll is provided at or near its lower end with a stud or pintle 14, on which is loosely fitted an antifriction-roll 15, and said stud and roll are fitted in the compound-curved slot 8 9 of the tubular standard, so as to ride and play in said slot in a manner to impart a turning movement to the spindle and mast-arm as the parts are forced downward by the gravity due to the weight of the spindle, the arm, the fuel-carrier, and the load thereon.

The fuel-carrier consists of two brackets 16, the vertical arms 17, the rest-bars 1S, and the movable rods 19. The described construction of the fuel-carrier is especially designed to carry a load of wood as fuel to be deposited into and upon the fireplace; but I would have it understood that I do not strictly limit myself to this particular type of fuelcarrier, because I am aware that the type of fuel-carrier shown by Figs. 5 and l2 may be employed when it is desired to deposit coal upon a grate in the fireplace.

The fuel-carrier for wood is shown more clearly by Figs. t and G, taken in connection with Figs. I and 2. By reference to these figures it will be noted that the brackets 1G are of angular form and hollow throughout their length, a part of the bracket lying in a horizontal position, while the other part occupies a downwardly-inclined position and at an angle to the horizontal length of said bracket. The horizontal arm or length of the bracket is provided with a coupling-sleeve 20, and said coupling-sleeves of the two angular brackets are fitted on the member 4b of ICG IIO

the mast-arm at suitable distances from each other, thus attaching the angular brackets to the mast-arm inparallel relation to each other, each coupling-sleeve being provided with a binding-screw 21, which is tightened against themast-arm to hold the brackets in fixed positions thereon. The vertical arms 17 of thewood-fuel carrier are each provided with a coupling-sleeve 22, which ts on the horizontal length of the angular bracket, and said sleeve carries a binding-screw 23, which tightens against the bracket to hold the arm 17 in a fixed position on the bracket. These vertical arms 17 depend from the angular brackets for suitable distances, and to their lower ends are pivoted the rest-bars 18, the latter normally occupying horizontal positions and at right angles to the arms 17. The pivotal connection between the rear ends of the rest-bars 18 and the vertical arms 17 may be effected in any suitable way-as, for eX- -ample, by a pin 18',passin g through the meeting ends of each bar and arm associated together (see Fig. 4)-and each vertical bar 17 carries a lifting-spring 24, arranged to bear against the under side of one of the rest-bars to lift the latter under certain conditions. I prefer to employ a spring of the style known as a leaf-spring and to curve the same substantially as shown byFig. 4, one end of the spring being fastened in a suitable way against the vertical arm, while the free end of the spring is forked and bears against the rest-bar. Each rest-bar is provided at its free end with alongitudinal slot, which opens through the end of the rest-bar, thus formingk a fork on said end of the rest-bar, and through this forked end of the rest-bar passes a pintle of a detent 25, which serves to connect the lower end of one arm or bar 19 to the outer end of one rest-bar 18, it being understood that each arm 18 is attached by'a detent 25 to'an arm or bar 19. These arms or bars 19 of the fuel-carrier are fitted to play loosely v in the inclined lengths of the hollow brackets 16, so as to' partake of the inclination of said brackets, and to the upper ends of the movable rods or bars 19 are attached the springs 26, which are housed within the hollow brackets, so as to be concealed from view and protected against injury when the apparatus is in service. I prefer to attach each spring to the horizontal length of the bracket and to fasten the other end thereof to tha rod or bar, as shown by Fig. 4; but the spring may be arranged in any other desired manner that may be preferred. The inclined length of each bracket is provided with a longitudinal slot 27, which at its lower end terminates in a lateral right-angled offset 28, and the bar 19 is provided with a stud or pinl 29, which fits in the slot and is adapted to occupy the rightangled offset 28 in said slot, whereby the bar or rod 19 may be locked in its extended position and against the tension of the spring 26 by having the stud thereof fit in the offset of the groove. The detent 25, connecting one rest-bar t0 the rod or bar 19, is formed with a cam-shaped arm 25a, and the pintle of the detent is journaled in the lower end of the rod. or bar 19 in a manner to turn or rock therein. This cam-shaped arm of the detent and the slot or bifurcation in the forward end of the rest-bar 18 are so shaped and arranged that the detent when its arm strikes the back wall of the fireplace in projecting the fuel-carrier into the fireplace will impart to the bar or rod 19 an axially-turning movement, so as to withdraw the straight pintle of the detent from the slotted or forked end of the rest-bar 18 and also move the stud or pin 29 out of the angular offset 28 and into the slot 27, thus allowing the spring 26 to raise the bar or rod 19 by retracting it longitudinally within the hollow bracket. The rod or bar 19 is fitted within the angular bracketto turn axially therein, and the detent or trip 25 is attached to said rod or bar so as to turn therewith in a horizontal plane when its curved arm 25"l is pressed against the back of the fireplace. The end of the detent-pintle is fitted in the slot of the rest-bar 18, so as to be withdrawn therefrom when the rod or bar 19 is turned axially in the angular bracket by the detent-arm striking against the fireplace back wall, and the offset 28 to the slot 29 in said angular bracket is positioned on one side of the slot for the rod 19 and its locking-stud 29 to be retracted from the offset on the axial turning movement of the rod or bar 19 in the angular bracket. Now when the fuelcarrier is swung horizontally into the fireplace far enough for the detent-'arm 25 to strike against the back Wall thereof the rod or bar 19 is turned somewhat on its axis, thus retracting the detent-pintle from engagement with the slot in the rest-bar 18 and withdrawing the stud 29 from the slot-offset 28, thereby releasing the bar 19 from locked engagement and also releasing the restbar 18 from the detent, and the spring 26 may now lift the bar or rod 19 within the hollow bracket. The described construction provides a simple means by which the bars or rods 19 are held in their projected positions and are interlocked detachably with the rest-bars to sustain the latter in their horizontal positions, so as to support to good advantage the load of fuel which may be placed on the carrier, and at the same time thedetents perform the twofold function of disconnecting .the slidable rods 19 from the rest-bars and of releasing the rods 19 out of locked engagement with the brackets. The arrangement of the angular brackets, the slidable rods, the vertical bars, and the restbars forms an inclosure in which wood fuel is .kept in place during the horizontal swinging movement of the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier; but when the detents are freed from the forked ends of the rest-bars theweight of the load or fuel depresses the rest-bars to thedoWnwardly-inclined position shown by dot- ICO IIO

ted lines in Fig. 2, so as to precipitate or dump the load or fuel upon the andirons or hearth of the fireplace, thus automatically discharging the load and unloading the fuel-carrier. After the load has been discharged from the fuel-carrier the springs 24 lift the rest-bars sufficiently for said bars to clear the fireplace and other parts of the apparatus as the fuelcarrier is withdrawn from the fireplace and returned with the mast-arm back against the wall at one side of the fireplace.

In Figs. 5 and l2 I have shown another type of fuel-carrier which is especially adapted for containing coal to be dumped upon a grate. In Fig. 5 I have shown the preferred forni of coal-carrier. It consists of a receptacle 30, provided with sleeves 3l, fittedto the horizontal bars 1G, which are held by set-screws 1Gb in the sleeves 20, attached to the mastarm. The coal-carrier shown by Fig. 5 has a divided bottom 32 32, with the members hinged at their edges to the receptacle and overlapping each other at their inner ends, one member having av cross-rod 33. The receptacle may, however, have a single bottom hinged at one edge and provided at its other edge with the rod 33. (See Fig. 12.) I have shown one of the latches for holding the bottom in a horizontal position, and this latch consists of a double-armed rod, one arm of which is longer than the other, both arms of the latch being slidably supported on the receptacle in suitable keepers 34. The short arm of the latch is arranged to engage with the locking-rod 33, while the upper arm of the latch projects a suitable distance beyond the sides (or ends) of the receptacle, so as to strike the back of the fireplace when the fuelcarrier is thrust or projected therein, whereby the latch is forced inwardly, so as to withdraw its short arm from the rod and thus release the bottom of the receptacle to permit the fuel thereon to be precipitated upon the grate.

In the fuel-carrier shown by Fig. 5 the lower door 32 is supported by the locking-rod 33, which is adapted to fit below7 the door 32 and is engaged by the short arm of the slidable latch 35, the long arm of said latch extending beyond one side or end of the receptacle. In the modified construction of the fuel-carrier as shown by Fig. l2, however, the receptacle has a single bottom 32, which is hinged at one edge to the receptacle, and on the free edge of this hinged bot-tom is supported a locking-rod 33, which is adapted to be engaged by the short lower arm of the latch In this embodiment of the invention, Fig. l2, both arms of the latch project beyond one side of the receptacle, and the short arm of said latch engages with the locking-rod 33, while the long latch-arm is adapted to press or bear against the back of the fireplace.

When in its adjusted position, the mastarm lies close against the wall at one side of the fireplace, with the fuel-carrier projecting from the front side of the mast-arm and with the spindle 1l raised, so its stud and frictionroll are at the highest point in the upper part S of the double cam-slot in the hollow standard. \Vhen in this position, the mast-arm is heldin locked position by means of a lockingrod 3G, which has its upper end formed into a clasp or arm 36 to embrace the mast-arm at one side of the fuel-carrier, as shown by Figs. l and 8. This locking-rod occupies a vertical position alongside of a wall, and it is fitted slidably in suitable wall-brackets 37, against one of which is seated a coiled liftingspring 3S. This lifting-spring encircles the locking-rod,and its other end is seated against a collar 30, which is rigid with said lockingrod. The locking-rod also has a stop-collar 40 to limit the upward movement thereof under the impulse of the coiled spring, the latter serving to normally lift the rod into locking engagement with the mast-arm. The lower end of the locking-rod is provided with an angular piece 4i, with which may be engaged an operating-arm on the time-controlled detent mechanism, whereby the locking-rod may be depressed against the tension of its lifting-spring and thus free it from engagement with the mast-arm.

I will now proceed to describe the time-controlled detent mechanism by which the locking-rod is operated to release the mast-arm and fuel-carrier and the match or matches are ignited to ignite the torch preparatory to having the torch thrust beneath the fuel in the fireplace to start the fire.

On a suitable base 42 is fastened a plate 43, carrying two pairs of standards 44 45, and this base also sustains a time mechanism or clock (indicated in a general way at 46) and a friction-spring 47, which provides a frictionsurface for the ignition of the match or matches in the match-holder, presently described. In the standards 45 is journaled a rock-shaft 4S, which is surrounded or encircled by a strong torsion-spring 49, one end of which is attached to the shaft, while the other end is attached to one of the standards 44, in which the shaft 48 is journaled. One end of the rock-shaft projects over the frictionspring 47, and to this end of the shaft is attached the match-holder 50, which in the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. 7 and 8 consists of a stem 5l, fastened to the end of the rock-shaft, and the cross-heads 52, which are fastened to the stem at suitable distances from and in parallel relation to each other. rlhese cross-heads of the matchholder are attached centrally tothe stem, and near the ends said cross-heads have alined openings, into which may be thrust the matches. as shown more clearly by Fig. 7, the matches fitting tightly in said cross-heads, so as to be retained in place therein and held by set-screws 52, The other end of the rockshaft 4S carries a cross-bar 53 and a releasin g-arm 54, the latter arranged to engage with the toe-piece 41 of the vertical lockingrod 3G, so as to depress the latter and release it from the mast-arm at the proper time. The arm 53 is fastened to the shaft 48 so as to have two arms of unequal length, and the long part of the bar 53 is provided with a right-angled nib 53, adapted to fit into the notched seat 53b of one of the standards after the shaft shall have made a half-revolution, so as to limit the axially-turning movement of said shaft. lVith the short member of the cross-bar 53 is adapted to engage an operating-lever 55, which is fulcrumed on the standard 44, and this releasing and operating lever 55 is arranged to have its freeend rest upon and engage with an alarm-key of the time mechanism 46. This time mechanism is shown as an ordinary clock with a grooved key 46 of a familiar type, and it is adapted to be placed solidly upon the base in juxtaposition to the operative elements of the detent mechanism, so as to have the operating and releasing lever 55 enga-ge with such time mechanism to restrain the cross-bar 53 and the shaft against the action of the coiled spring; but when the -alarm of the time mechanism is set in motion the key lifts the free end of the operating-lever 55, so as to release its other end from the short endv ofthe crossbar 53, thereby permitting the spring to rock or turn the shaft, this turning movement of the shaft being limited to a half-revolution by the long end and nib of the cross-bar being brought into engagement with the notched seat in the standard 45. As the shaft is turned by the spring the matches in the holder 50 are carried into frictional contact with the spring 47, to be ignited thereby, and at the same time the detent-arm 54 is brought into engagement with the toe-piece 41 of the vertical locking-bar 36 to depress the latter and free it from the mast-arm. If desired, the upper surface of the friction-spring 47 may be coated with an abrasive surface or provided with a layer of sandpaper to insure the positive and certain ignition of the matches in the holder 50. While I have shown my detent mechanism as especially adapted for use in connection with an ordinary clock,-I do not limit myself to the ernployment of this specific type of time mechanism, as I am aware that the timemechanism may be modified without departing from the invention.

I will now proceed to describe the torch and its carrying mechanism, reference being had more particularly to Figs. 1, 9, 10, and 11.

A torch-carrying rod 56 is arranged in a horizontal position below the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier near the lower end of the hollow standard 1. The inner end of this carryingrod 56 is fastened rigidly to a guide-block 57, which is tted slidably in the lower part of the hollow standard to have sliding and turning play therein, and said carrying rod 56 passes through the slot 10 at the lower part of the Vstandard 1, a friction-roller 58 being fitted on the carrying-rod to reduce the friction between said rod and the edges of the slot 10 when the torch-carrying rod is swung in a horizontal plane to present the torch beneath the fuel in the fireplace. This guideblock 57 is weighted, and said block, in conjunction with the weight of the rod, serves to move the rod by gravity when it is released from engagement with the vertical locking-rod 59. This locking rod 59 is slidably fitted in suitable keepers 60, fastened to the hollow standard 1 between the cam-slots 9 and 10 therein, and the lower end of this vertical locking-rod has a foot-piece 61, which is adapted to fit under the torch-carrying rod, so as to engage with the latter to hold said rod in a raised position. The upper end of the locking-rod 59 has an enlarged head 61, which lies adjacent to .and beneath the cam-slot 9 in the standard 1, so as to be in the path of the stud 14 and roller 15 of the spindle 11, forming a part of the mast-arm 4, whereby the locking-rod for the torch-carrier rod is arranged in such relation to the mastarm as to be depressed from engagement with the torch-carrying rod when the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier shall have completed their travels to deposit the fuel upon the fireplace and shall have returned back to position against the wall. The locking-rod 59 is normally lifted by means of a coiled spring 62, which encircles the rod to be held in place thereby, and one end of this spring is seated against one of the brackets 60, while the other end of the spring fits against a collar 64 on the rod, the upward movement of the rod-being arrested bya stop pin or collar 65. At its outer free extremity the torch-carrying rod 56 terminates when in normal or adj listed position adjacent to the match-holder of the time-controlled detent mechanism, and said free end of the carrying-rod sustains a torch-holder, (indicated in a general way by the numeral 66.) In one embodiment of this torch-holder I provide a cross-bar 67, which is provided at one end with a bow-shaped keeper 68 and at its other end with a hook or prong 69. Vith this torch-holder engages the torch 70. (Shown by Fig. 9.) This torch is shown as provided at one end with one or more wicks 7l, extending into the torch, and` at its heel the torch has an aperture 72, with which may be engaged the hook or prong 69 of the holder. 'The torch 70 is designed to be placed on the torch-holder above the crossbar 67 and to have one end rest in the keeper v 68, and thus the -torch is held securely in position. The torch is a perforated receptacle filled with asbestos or other absorbentmaterial designed to be saturated with inflammable oil, and the carrying-rod and the torch are arranged when in normal position to be close to the matches in the holder 50, solthat when the shaft 48 shall have described a halfrevolution the matches in the holder 50 will be presented to the torch to ignite the same.

To insure prompt ignition of the fuel after the latter shall have been deposited in the fireplace, I provide means for emptying oil IOO of an inflammable nature upon the fuel, such oil-supply devices being arranged for movement with the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier and adapted for operation automatically when the fuel is unloaded into the fireplace. Iii embodying this feature of my invention I provide an oil-receptacle 74, which is pivoted in the bail-shaped end of the carrying-arm 75, said receptacle being provided with a dripflange 7l for catching any oil which may liow down the outside of the vessel 7l. rlhis carrying-arm 7 5 is attached to the inast-arm to extend horizontally therefrom about midway between the parts of the fuel-carrier, and, as shown by Fig. 2, the oil -receptacle is sustained in the plane of the fuel-carrier, so as to be projected into the fireplace. This pivoted oilreceptacle has a curved operating arm or finger 77, which extends from the vessel or receptacle in such a way as to ride against the arch .of the fireplace when the fuel-carrier and receptacle aie thrust therein, said curved finger 77 serving to tilt the receptacle and einptyits contents upon the fuel after the latter shall have been deposited into the fireplace.

This being the construction of my automatic fire-kindler, the operation may be described briefly as follows: rlhe mast-arm is swung around and away from the fireplace and the rest-bars l5 of the fuel-carrier are raised to be engaged with the detents and the spring-controlled rods l.) of said carrier. The cairier is now loaded with wood, which may be piled thereon, as shown by dotted lilies in Figs. l and 2, and the rod 3G is engaged with the niast-arin to hold the latter and the fuelcarrier in position. rlhe torch-rod 5G is now turned to a position where the torch is adjacent to the detent mechanism, and this torchrod is nowheld in locked position by the rod 5f). The time mechanism C has its alarm wound up and set in the ordinary way to start at a certain time, and this clock is placed on the base for the operating-lever 55 to engage with the alarm winding-key, said lever 55 engaging with the cross-bar 53 to restrain the shaft against turning movement under the influence of the coiled spring. The apparatus is now adjusted for service, and when the alarm is set in motion the alarm-key of the time mechanism lifts the lever 55 to release it from the cross-bar 53 and allow the spring to turn the rock-shaft. The rock-shaft operates the match holder to ignite the matches and present the lighted matches to the torch to ignite the latter, and at the same time the releasing-arm 5ft of the rock-shaft strikes the toe-piece il to depress the rod 36 and release it from the mast-arm. The mastarm and the fuel-carrier are iiow free to turn in a horizontal plane, and as the parts are loaded with fuel the force of gravity impels the mast-arin in a downward direction, the cam-slot S 'imparting to the mast-arm a horizontal swinging movement, so as to present the fuel-carrier opposite to the fireplace and project the same into the fireplace by the time the mast-arm makes a half-turn around the standard l and reaches the lower limit of the slot S. As the f nel-carrier and the receptacle 7l are projected into the fireplace the detents 25 of the f ucl-carrier strike the back wall of the fireplace and are thus moved to release the rest-bars 18 and allow the rods 19 to be drawn up by the springs into the angular brackets, and the weight of the fuel thus forces the restbars IS into the downwardly-inclined positions shown by dotted lilies in Fig. 2, whereby the fuel is automatically discharged into the fireplace. At the saine time the curved finger of the receptacle -fl strikes the arch of the fireplace and tilts the receptacle, so as. to empty the infiaminable oil upon the fuel. The weight of the mast-arm and the fuel-carrier causes the stud and friction-roller of the spindle to pass into the cam-slot i) of the standard, and as this slot is curved in the reverse direction to the slot S the inast-arin and fuelcarrier are moved backwardly in a reverse horizontal direction against the wall, thus moving the mast-arm, the fuel-carrier, and the oil-receptacle out of the way. As the mast-arm and the spindle reach the lower limit of the cam-slot 9 in the standard l the roller and stud impinge upon the head of the rod 5) to depress the latter against the tension of the spring and release the foot of said rod from the torch-carrying rod 56, and this rod heilig now free the weight of the rod and its guide-block 57 causes the rod to travel in the lower cam-groove l0, which imparts a horizontal swinging motion to the rod 56 and moves the rod and the ignited torch toward and into the fireplace, the torch being presented below the fuel, so as to ignite the latter to the best advantage.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic apparatus in which fuel may be deposited in the fireplace, a torch ignited, and the fuel ignited by the torch, the operation of the parts being timed to take place in proper consecutive order, and the whole being controlled by atime mechanism which may be set in motion at any predetermined period.

I preferably brace the mast-arm by means of a stay 7 f), which is attached to the extremity of the inast-arin and to the upper end of the spindle l1. (See Fig. l.)

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction ofthe mechauisinshereinshown and described as the preferred embodiment of my invention maybe made bya skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

IOO

IIO

IIS

1. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination of a fuel-carrier to deposit fuel upon a iireplace, an ignition device to be presented to the replace and ignite the fuel deposited therein by said fuel-carrier, and a time-controlled detent mechanism to cooperate with the fuel-carrier and ignition device to set the parts of said detent mechanism in operation at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic ire-kindler, the combination of a standard, a mast-arm' mounted thereon to swing in a downwardly-inclined direction, a fuel-carrier supported by the mast-arm, a torch mechanism, and an ignition device to ignite the torch, as and for the purposes described.

3. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination of a standard, a mast-arm, a fuel-carrieron said arm and equipped with mechanism for automatically dumping its load into the fireplace when said fuel-carrier is presented thereto, a torch mechanism cooperating with the mast-arm, and the ignition device in operativerelation to the torch mechanism, as and for the purposes described.

4. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a swinging mast-arm, of a fuelcarrier mounted on said arm and equipped with an automatic releasing device, a torch mechanism cooperating with said mast-arm, and an ignition device in operative relation to the torch mechanism, substantially as described. o

5. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination of a cam-slotted standard, a mast-arm fitted and connected to said standard to travel thereon by gravity and to have a swinging motion imparted thereto by the cam-slot in said standard, a fuel-carrier mounted on the mast-arm, a torch mechanism cooperating with said mast-arm and au ignition device, as and for the purposes described.

6. In an automatic iire-kindler, t-he combination with a standard, of a mast-arm supported thereon totravel in a continuous downward direction and to swing back and forth during its downward travel on said standard, a fuel-carrier mounted on the mast-arm -to travel therewith, and a torch mechanism cooperating with the mast-arm to be operated thereby in an interval during the descent thereof on the standard, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic tire-kindler, the combination of a standard having a double camslot, a mast-arm mounted on the standard to swing thereon and having a projection which engages with said double cam-slot to impart back-an d-forth swinging motion to said mastarm,'a fuel-carrier mounted on the mast-arm and equipped Wi th discharging devices, a torch mechanism and an ignition device in operative relation to said torch mechanism, as and for the purposes described.

S. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination of a standard, a mast-arm supported by said standard t'o swing thereon, a fuel-carrier on said mast-arm, a torch-carrying rod fitted to said standard, and a locking mech-l anism for said torch-carrying rod, as and for the purposes described.

9. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a standard, a mast-arm, fitted to the standard to travel and swing thereon and having a fuel-carrier, of a torch-carrying rod mounted on the standard to travel and rotate thereon, and a locking-rod operatively connected with said torch-carrying rod and arranged in the path of a part of said mastarm to be operated thereby and released from the torch-rod on the completion of the travel of the mast-arm and fuel-carrier7 as and for the purposes described.

10. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a swinging mast-arm and a fuelcarrier mounted thereon, of a locking mechanism to restrain the mast-arm from movement a time-controlled detent mechanism to release the locking device from said mastarm, a torch mechanism controlled by the mast-arm and an ignition device operated by Ythe detent mechanism as and for the' purposes described.

1l. In an automatic iire-kindler, the combination with a movable fuel-carrier, of a locking mechanism for restraining said carrier from movement, a timecontrolled detent mechanism to release the locking mechanism, an ignition device controlled by said detent mechanism and a torch mechanism in operative relation to the ignition device, as and for the purposes described.

l2. In an automatic ire-kindler, the combination with a mast-arm, having a fuel-carrier, and a torch-carrier, of a locking mechanism for said mast-arm, a time-controlled detent mechanism and a match-holder carried by a part of the detent mechanisimthe whole arranged to operate the locking device to release the fuel-carrier and to ignite the torch at a predetermined time, as and for the purposes described.

13. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a fuel-carrier, of a swinging torchholder carrying a torch, a time-controlled detent mechanism to release the f nel-carrier, an ignition device operated by the detent mechanism to ignite the torch in said torch-holder and means to operate the torch-holder to move it into operative position, as and for the purposes described.

14. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a mast-arm of a fuel-carrier on said mast-arm a locking-rod to hold the mastarm in its adjusted position, and a time-controlled detent mechanism having an arm to engage with said locking-rod, asand for the purposes described.

15. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a mast-arm, and a fuel-carrier mounted thereon, of a torch-carrying rod, a time-controlled detent device, a rock-shaft having means for engagement with said de- IOT IIO

tent device, a match-holder carried by said shaft and arranged adjacent to the torch-earrying rod, and a releasing-arm mounted on said shaft to operate a locking device which is operatively connected with the mast-arm, as and for the purposes described.

1G. In an automatic 1ire-kindler,the combination with a mast-arm, a fuel-carrier supported thereon, a locking device therefor, and a torch-carrying rod, of a time-controlled detent mechanism, a spring-controlled rockshaft engaging therewith, an operating-lever to restrain said shaft from movement, a releasing-arm carried by the shaft and arranged to engage the locking device for said mastarm, a friction-spring, and a match-holder carried by the rock-shaft to sweep across the friction-spring and to be presented to the torch-carrying rod as and for the purposes described.

17. In an automatic iire-kindler, the combination with a cam--slotted standard, a mastarm mounted on said standard t-o swing thereon, and a fuel-carrier supported by the mastarm, of a weighted guide-block fitted in said standard, a torch-rod attached to said guideblock and engaging with a cam-slot in said standard, and a locking-rod forsaid torch-rod, for t-he purposes described, substantially as set forth.

18. In an automatic Iirekindler, the combination with a standard, a mast-arm mounted on the standard to swing thereon a fuel-carrier supported by said mast-arm, and a torchcarrying rod, of a locking-rod having a foot to engage with the torch'carrying rod and a head arranged in the path of a spindle forming a part of the mast-arm, and a liftingspring for said locking-rod, as and for the purposes described.

lf). In an automatic iire-kindler, a fuel-carrier comprising brackets having arms, movable rest-bars attached to said arms, lockingrods supported by the brackets, and detents carried by the rods andengaging with the restbars, substantially as described.

20. In an automatic fire-kindler, the fuelcarrier comprising suitable brackets and arms connected thereto, movable rods attached to the brackets, rest-bars hung on the arms, and detents which connect the rods and the rest- Ybars and arranged to project from the carrier to release the rest-bars as and for the purposes described.

21. In an automatic. fire-kindler, a fuel-carrier comprising brackets having arms connected thereto, rest-bars lullig thereon, slid able rods having looking engagement with said brackets, springs to control said rods, and detents carried bythe rods to engage with said rest-bars and provided with cam-formed arms which extend or protrude beyond the carrier, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.

22. In an automatic Iire-kindler, the combination with a mast-arm, and a fuel-carrier supported thereon, of a tiltable receptaclecarrier by said mast-arm, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.

23. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination with a mast-arm, and a fuel-carrier supported thereon, of an arm or bar attached to said mast-arm and projecting over the fuelcarrier, a tiltable vessel mounted in said arm or bar, and an operating-finger carried by the vessel, as and for the purposes described.

24. In an automatic fire-kindler, the combination of a hollow standard provided with a cam-slot, a spindle fitted slidably in said standard and provided with a projection to ride in the cam-slot, a mast-arm attached to said spindle, a fuel-carrier mounted on the mast-arm, a torch-carrier rod mounted on the standard to travel and lturn thereon, and a detent mechanism, and an ignition device controlled by the detent mechanism and arranged in operative relation to the torchholder, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.

25. In an automatic re-kiudler, the combination with a fuel-carrier, and a time-controlled detent mechanism, of a torch-carrying rod provided with a cross-head, a keeper and hook on said cross-head, and a torch iitted removably to said keeper and hook of the torch-holder, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD MONROE GILI..

J. G. TRDIBLE, JNo. P. ODoM. 

